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(NoMbdeL) T. W. WHARMBY.

STAMP MOISTENER.

No. 327,211. Patented Sept. 29, 1885.

N. FEIERS. Pnnwlilhog v n via-mum". n. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

THOMAS WV. WHARMBY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

STAMP-MOISTENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No.327,211, dated September 29, 1885.

Application filed July 24, 1885.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, THOMAS WASHINGTON VVHARMBY, of Cleveland, in the county of Ouyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented a new and Improved Stamp Moistener, of which the following is afull, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to a device for moistening the surfaces of envelopes or packages to which postage or revenue stamps are to be affixed by pressing them on the moistened surfaces, and has for its object to provide a simple, inexpensive, and efficient device for accomplishing this work, and thereby obviating the necessity of moistening the stamps by the tongue or lips in the usual way, and also the rubbing of the paper surface as with a sponge, which has an injurious effect on the paper to which the stamps are to be applied.

The invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combinations of parts of the stamp-moistener,all as hereinafter fully described and claimed. 7

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure l is a longitudinal sectional elevation of my improved stamp-moistener with the moistener proper placed in its drip-case, as when out of use. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional elevation taken on the line as a Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the moistener proper removed from the case.

The moistener proper is made with a piece of wool, felt, or other fabric which will absorb water and give it off under pressure, and shown in the drawings at A, and is secured to the bottom of a water-reservoir, 13, say, by means of end cleats, O 0, through which and the upturned ends of the fabric A screws 0 0 pass into the reservoir, or in any other approved way.

I make the reservoir B preferably with a rounded bottom surface, on which the moistening-fabric A rests, and with inclined ends; but the reservoir may have a fiat bottom and four verticalsides, if preferred.

The bottom of the reservoir B hasaseries of holes, as at I), through which the water D (No model.)

may percolate or pass to the moistening-fabric A, the water being filled into the reservoir through a hole, 6, in the handle E of the cover F of the reservoir, which cover, preferably, is screwed to the upper edges of the reservoir, and with a packing, G, interposed to make a tight joint, through which the water will not pass when the moistener is raised and lowered by handle E in using it.

At H is shown a case to be made of any suitable material and water tight, and in which the moistener proper may be held or suspended by the overhanging flange or projection f of its cover F, resting on the top of the case, so that the case H serves as a cup or vessel to receive the water which may chance to drip from the fabric A when the moistener is not in use.

In operation, the moistener proper, when charged with water, will be lifted from its case H by grasping the handle E, and the fabric A will be pressed upon the surface of the envelope or package which is to receive the stamp, and the stamp then will be placed on the moistened surface,and a blotter will be pressed upon the stamp, to affix it to the envelope or package and dry off any surplus moisture which may appear around the margin of the stamp, which may very rapidly be done, and the disagreeable features incident to moistening stamps by applying them to the tongue or lips are entirely obviated. Furthermore, a moistening of the surface to receive the stamp by simply pressing the fabric A on said surface does not have the injurious effect on the fiber of the paper produced by moistening said surfaces by rubbing a wet or moist sponge over them, as will readily be understood.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A stamp-moistener consisting of a reservoir adapted to contain liquid and having its bottom perforated, and an absorbent back- 9 ing secured on said bottom over said perfoforations, substantially as set forth.

2. A stamp-moistener comprising a perforated liquid-reservoir, an absorbent fabric secured thereto, and a cover to the reservoir having a marginal flange, substantially as reservoir With or Without an interposed paekherein set forth. ing, substantially as herein set forth.

3. In stamp-moisteners, the moistener proper, comprising a liquid-reservoir, B, perfo- THOMAS WVHARMBY' 5 rated, as at b, an absorbent fabric, A, secured Witnesses:

thereto, and a cover, F, having a handle, E, RICHARD H. CUTTER,

apertured at e and secured to the top of the H. F. PARSONS. 

